DIEGETIC GAMES

Build Worlds, Tell Stories

About Diegetic Games

Diegetic Games is Randy Lubin's game design studio. This site features story games meant to help players build rich worlds and narratives. Most of the games on this site are free to print and play; many are free to remix.

The games toward the bottom of the page are playable but still in development. Feel free to send feedback and play reports to [email protected].

"Diegesis" is Greek for narrative or plot. In stories, something is diegetic if it exists within the fiction; diegetic music might come from a character's headphones. These games are all about creating compelling stories and immersive worlds - enjoy!

Support me on Patreon

I'm designing games with the support of my fans on Patreon – come join me and get access to early drafts and design notes.

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Leveraged Play

Want to commission a game? Randy has a consulting firm, Leveraged Play. He designs and runs serious games that explore the future and explain the present. Clients include conferences, think tanks, leadership teams, and more.

Behind the Magic

A fantasy mockumentary game about incompetent adventures on an epic quest to save the world. Players will take turns setting and acting out scenes and also have "confessionals" with the Bard who is documenting their journey.

Across the Border

Plotypus

A collaborative storytelling game that enables any group to tell an epic story with a riveting plot. Players draw setting and character cards for inspiration and narrate the story through eight pivotal chapters.

Condemned

A collection of three games designed for "The Power Broker" game design competition. Includes The Idealist, a story game about selling out one's values for power and two other games that have players engaging with local government.

Among the Mortals

Stellar Drift

Earth is dying. Play as the leaders of resettlement spaceships over successive generations and explore how their cultures diverge and evolve as they encounter dire crises. Designed for Golden Cobra 2018.